More books in a child's home leads to higher reading scores, better academic performance and results in greater opportunities in life. That is why the Library has partnered with WSOC-TV to collect new and gently-used children’s and teen books through the 9 Books for Kids book drive.

The objective of 9 Books for Kids is to provide parents, children and the community with resources to improve student learning and achievement across the Carolinas.  

New and gently-used children’s and teen books can be donated at any Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location. Additionally, three 9 Family Focus community business partners have chosen to collect books at their Mecklenburg county locations: Showmars, Ashley HomeStore and E.R. Plumbing Services. 

All donated books will be distributed by the library to area children and teens through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Outreach Services without the need to check out and return the book.

Donations can help increase the number of books in the homes of children through outreach efforts like the Community Bookshelf program, Summer Break Book Bucks, Little Free Libraries and partnerships with Read Charlotte and Promising Pages. 

You can drop off your book donation at any Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location or one of the community business partners beginning March 11, 2019 through April 12, 2019.

To find out how you can get involved, visit 9BooksforKids.com.

Thank you for helping the Library improve lives and build a stronger community!

9 Family Focus Partner Locations:

Showmars Huntersville, 9605 Sherrill Estates Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

Showmars, 6801 Northlake Mall Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216

Showmars University, 115 E McCullough Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

Showmars Mint Hill, 6850 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227

Showmars Matthews, 9704 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105

Showmars, 10612 Providence Rd Unit A, Charlotte, NC 28277

Showmars Park Cedar - Pineville, 9925 Park Cedar Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210

Showmars Arrowood, 2216 W Arrowood Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217

Showmars Emerywood, 1317 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210

Showmars Dilworth (East Blvd.), 1600 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Showmars 7th Street, 2004 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Showmars Eastway Drive, 3225 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205

Showmars Little Rock, 2540 Little Rock Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214

Showmars Freedom Drive, 2601 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208

Showmars South Park Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd G-29, Charlotte, NC 28211

Showmars Government Center, 600 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Showmars Charlotte Plaza, 201 South College, Charlotte, NC 28202

Showmars Hearst Tower, Hearst Tower, 214 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

E.R. Plumbing Services, 648 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd Ste C, Matthews, NC 28105

Ashley HomeStore, 11320 Carolina Pl Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134

Ashley HomeStore Outlet, 5345 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217

Ashley HomeStore, 430 E McCullough Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

Community Read is here! This is Week 1 of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s biggest community-wide book club. It’s not too late to join in. Read the books, share your thoughts and create a better community. Everyone in Charlotte is participating, so don’t miss out! 

Open Books. Open Minds.

This year’s Community Read is nothing like before. It is bigger, bolder and better with important topics to discuss, more than 30 community partners involved and plenty of ways to get engaged. Together with our sponsors, the Library is excited about the book selections and the program lineup during March.  

The main title for Community Read is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The New York Times best-selling, award-winning novel deals with the sometimes controversial issues that are important nationally and locally in the Charlotte community. This year’s complete selection of companion titles with related themes are:

• For adults and teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 
• For middle grades:  Wishtree by Katherine Applegate 
• For young children:  Love by Matt de la Peña 

The Library’s goal is to engage 10% of the Charlotte community – 100,000 people – with Community Read. Be part of the community’s biggest book club.

Step 1 – Pledge to participate

Community Read is for everyone. Everyone is invited to take part in this year’s Community Read. Pledge online and start participating.

Step 2 – Read the books   

All three titles are available at Library locations in print and digital formats. Looking to read online? There’s no wait as the Library expanded its digital license to permit simultaneous downloads of audiobooks and e-books during the month of March for The Hate U Give.

Additionally, generous investments from presenting sponsor Bank of America and from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas allowed for the purchase of more than 2,000 copies that were distributed at Library and partner locations, while supplies last. 

Step 3 – Share your thoughts by attending Library and/or Partner Programs

There are many conversations, events and programs taking place around The Hate U Give and its relevant themes during Week 1. Join a conversation, use your voice and help change the narrative of our community. Below is a listing of just some of the events going on around Mecklenburg County:
 

Adults and teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Community Read: From Page to Screen: The Hate U Give
Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 10 a.m. at IB Community Room at Independence Regional
Whether you already love the book or want to watch the movie before reading it, join us for the film adaptation of The Hate U Give. See the story brought to life! This movie is rated PG-13. Learn more

Family First: I Wrote My Way Out 
Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 11 a.m. at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
for ages 12-21
$5/Free for Members
This is a writing and performance-focused Family First Workshop led by Guerilla Poets. Using Tupac’s writings and lyrics, teens and young adults will learn writing techniques they can use to create a toolkit for dealing with trauma. Learn more

Community Read Film Series: The Hate U Give
Sunday, March 3, 2019 – 1 p.m. at The Wells Fargo Playhouse at ImaginOn:
oin us for our Community Read Film Series, movies related to the themes found in this year's Community Read selection The Hate U Give. Learn more

Film Screening and Discussion
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. at Johnson C. Smith University, James B. Duke Memorial Library. RSVP and questions to [email protected] or call 704-371-6740
Watch The Hate U Give film from 4:30-6:45 p.m. Program follows the film at 7 p.m. and includes a brief overview of the book, then a presentation by  Toussaint Romain, followed by questions and answers. The evening will end with a LIVE podcast from 8:15 p.m. - 9 p.m. Mastermind Podcast will capture people’s comments and reactions to the book and movie. Learn more

Central Piedmont READS
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 – 11 a.m. at Central Piedmont Community College – Cato Campus, Cato III-CT024 lower level Auditorium. Free with registration
CP Reads will host book discussions on each of its six campuses. Faculty and staff will be able to register for these events in LearnerWeb to receive PD credits. Learn more

K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace Talk Back
Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 12 p.m. at Levine Museum of the New South.
Free with registration Adults, Teens (12-18)
K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace is a community-created exhibit about police-involved shootings throughout the nation and in Charlotte. At the Levine Museum of the New South, participants will tour the K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace exhibit in a self-guided experience for 30 minutes, which will be followed by a 30-minute reflective conversation, a Talk Back, with a Levine Museum of the New South educator. Learrn more

Self Care is Revolutionary
Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 10 a.m. at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
$5/Free for Members
Join visiting author Damaris Hill and CLT organizations for a day focused on using arts and literature to align on mind and body and address issues within our community. Yoga, writing and storytelling workshops.

Middle Grades: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Community Read: Drop-in Wishtree activity
Friday, March 1, 2019 – All day at Morrison Regional
Come write a wish to put on our Wishtree! We will collect all the wishes to create an art piece at the end of March. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree Book Discussion for Seniors 55+
Friday, March 8, 2019 – 2 p.m. Davidson Meeting Room at Davidson
Join the library and other seniors to discuss Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Refreshments and extension activity included. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree School-Aged Nature Journal Program
Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 1 p.m. at University City Regional
Develop literacy and critical thinking skills through books and hands-on activities. This month the theme will be our Community Read selection, Wishtree. Learn more

Children: Love by Matt de la Peña 

Community Read: The "Love" Scavenger Hunt
Friday, March 1, 2019 – All day at Myers Park
Drop in and participate in our special literacy scavenger hunt activity inspired the children's picture book "Love" by Matt de la Peña. Complete this activity and receive a prize! Learn more

Community Read Community Helper Storytime: Love
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. at Sugar Creek
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña and other stories with your favorite community helpers. Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love
Thursday, March 7, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Meeting Room at Scaleybark
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña. We will also have songs, rhymes, and movement activities featuring love in all its different forms. Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love
Friday, March 8, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. Spangler Library at ImaginOn
ring the  family to enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Learn more

Step 4 – Engage on social media

Share the news on social media. Be sure to tag #CommunityRead2019 and keep the discussion going.

Step 5 – Celebrate the love of reading

Invite your friends and family to participate. Make new friends. Join book club discussions hosted around our community or start your own book club. Visit cmlibrary.org to learn more. The Library has sets of The Hate U Give available for loan to book clubs and other groups. These kits include 10 copies of the book as well as discussion guides and other resources. Learn more here. 

Organizations can also get involved by participating in library programs, taking the pledge and recording their program information on the Library website at Community Read Partners. Once your group or book club has read the book, please tell us about it! Complete this form so we can include your group in our overall count of Community Read participants.

Spread the word about Community Read 2019 to family and friends and invite them to participate. We’ll see you at an event or program in March.

Community Read is presented by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in collaboration with more than 30 community partners, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Community Building Initiative and many more. A complete list can be found on cmlibrary.org.

Families and lovers of children’s literature won’t want to miss seeing Matt de la Peña, the New York Times Bestselling, as he visits Charlotte as part of Community Read’s selection of his latest title, Love. 

This event will take place on Thursday, Mar. 28 at 7 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center in the Wells Fargo Playhouse with book signing to follow.

Love by  Matt de la Peña is the perfect selection for this year's Community Read. de la Peña books’ themes of love amid inequality and racism and their messages of shared humanity and interconnectedness have resonated with readers of all ages around the world. 

His books have been awarded the Newbery Medal—winning author of six young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, and The Living) and four picture books (including Love and Last Stop on Market Street). In 2016 he was awarded the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award.

During his visit to ImaginOn, de la Peña will read aloud from his picture book, Love, answer questions and sign copies of his books. His books will be available for purchase on site the day of the event, courtesy of Black Forest Books.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Check out de la Peña books at the Library

Love

"Love can be found in many areas of our life--in music, in nature, in the people around us. This beautiful picture book, created by an award-winning author/illustrator duo, celebrates the many ways love buoys us throughout our lives. A comforting and thoughtful book to keep on a child's bookshelf for years to come."

Last Stop on Market Street

A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

Mexican WhiteBoy

Sixteen-year-old Danny searches for his identity amidst the confusion of being half-Mexican and half-white while spending a summer with his cousin and new friends on the baseball fields and back alleys of San Diego County, California.

 The Living

After an earthquake destroys California and a tsunami wrecks the luxury cruise ship where he is a summer employee, high schooler Shy confronts another deadly surprise.

Carmela Full of Wishes

Carmela, finally old enough to run errands with her brother, tries to think of the perfect wish, while his wish seems to be that she stayed home.

Superman: Dawnbreaker (DC Icons Series)

"Before he becomes Superman, Clark Kent must save his hometown of Smallville"—

FIND ALL OF de la Peña'S BOOKS

We’re into week 2 of Community Read 2019 and couldn’t be more excited with the number of people pledging to the program, along with all the events and programs that happened in the first week. We’re well on our way to reaching more than 100,000 people in our community.  And Week 2 promises more programs, more events and more strengthening of our community.

We have great news to share! Because of our outstanding sponsors, we have additional free books of The Hate U Give available – while supplies last.  Check with your local Library location on availability.

Open Books. Open Minds.

There’s still time to join in conversations and let your voice be heard.   Read the books, share your thoughts and create a stronger Charlotte. This year’s complete selection of companion titles with related themes are:

• For adults and teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 
• For middle grades:  Wishtree by Katherine Applegate 
• For young children:  Love by Matt de la Peña 

Be part of the community’s biggest book club. Pledge online and start participating. Remember: all three titles are available at Library locations in print and digital formats. Looking to read online? The Library expanded its digital license to permit simultaneous downloads of audiobooks and e-books during the month of March for The Hate U Give. This means you don’t have to wait to read the book!

Be a part of the conversation, events and programs taking place around The Hate U Give and its relevant themes during Week 2. Use your voice and help change the narrative of our community. Here is a list of just some of the events going on around Mecklenburg County:
 

Adults and teens: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

Community Read: From Page to Screen: The Hate U Give
Monday, March 11, 2019 – 5 p.m. at Sugar Creek Library
Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right. This movie is rated PG - 13. Learn more 

Community Read: The Hate U Give Teen Music Club
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 – 4 p.m. at West Boulevard Library
Are you interested in learning more about music creation? Join us for a special discussion on how music plays a role in The Hate U Give and create a playlist for Starr. Learn more

Culture & Kicks: The Intersection of Sneaker Culture and Social Justice 
Saturday, March 15, 2019 – 7 p.m. at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
Join us for a conversation, exploring the ways sneaker culture and social justice intersect in The Hate U Give. The talk explores how Angie Thomas uses hip-hop culture in her text and film to address police brutality and how African Americans use sneaker culture as a means of expression and communication.   Learn more

K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace Talk Back
Sunday, March 16, 2019 – 12 p.m. at Levine Museum of the New South
K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace is a community-created exhibit about police-involved shootings throughout the nation and in Charlotte. At the Levine Museum of the New South, participants will tour the K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace exhibit in a self-guided experience for 30 minutes, which will be followed by a 30-minute reflective conversation, a Talk Back, with a Levine Museum of the New South educator. Learn more

Community Read: Now Showing: The Hate U Give
Sunday, March 16, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Davidson Library
Whether you already love the book or want to watch the movie before reading it, join us for the film adaptation of The Hate U Give. See the story brought to life! This movie is rated PG-13. Learn more

Middle Grades: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Community Read: Drop-in Wishtree activity
Sunday, March 10, 2019 – All day at Morrison Regional
Come write a wish to put on our wish tree! We will collect all the wishes to create an art piece at the end of March. Learn more

Community Read: LEGO Program Wishtree Edition
Monday, March 11, 2019 – 5 p.m. Independence Regional, IB Community Room
This month at LEGO Club we will be celebrating nature and community as we talk about the book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We will learn about trees and their importance in our community and build nature scenes with our Legos. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree Nature Stations
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. Scaleybark Library
Develop literacy and critical thinking skills through books and hands-on activities. Join us as we explore our Community Read selection Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Participants will visit nature-themed stations where everyone can make and take their own nature journal, do leaf rubbings, contribute a wish of their own to the library's Wish tree and more! Registration is required. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree School-Aged Nature Journal Program
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 1 p.m. at Sugar Creek, Community Room AB
Develop literacy and critical thinking skills through books and hands-on activities. This month the theme will be our Community Read selection, Wishtree. Learn more

Community Read Homeschool Book Club: Wishtree
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 2 p.m. at Steele Creek, Community Room 
This month we will be discussing Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate. For homeschool students ages 8 to 11. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 2:30 p.m. at West Boulevard, Community Room AB
School's out early today, so join us in decorating our wish tree with wishes. Let's celebrate one book, one week, one community! Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree Rookie Science: Forestry
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 3:00 p.m. at South County Regional, West Boulevard, Community Room 
Smokey the Bear and forester Jason will be here to talk to children about forestry, ecology and trees in NC. Program based on the book Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. This program is part of our Community Read. Learn more

Community Read: Wishtree: Nature Journals and Trees
Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 2:00 p.m. at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, The Round
Develop literacy and critical thinking skills through books and hands-on activities. This program will be about our Community Read selection, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We will learn about the importance of trees in our community and make nature journals to take home. Participants can also receive a free hickory tree sapling from Trees Charlotte to take home and plant! Registration is not required, but space is limited to 30 participants. Learn more

Community Read- Children's Writing Group: Wishtree
Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 3:00 p.m. at Morrison Regional, Children's Programming Room
Collaborate with other kids as you share your writing, give and receive feedback, and support others through the writing process. Strengthen your writing skills through engaging in hands-on activities. We will focus on the Community Read selection, Wishtree, and learn about nature journal writing. Registration is required and begins February 20th. Learn more

Children: Love by Matt de la Peña 

Community Read: The Love Scavenger Hunt
Monday, March 11, 2019 – All day at Myers Park
Drop in and participate in our special literacy scavenger hunt activity inspired the children's picture book Love by Matt de la Peña. Complete this activity and receive a prize! Learn more

Community Read Family Storytime: Love
Monday, March 11, 2019 – 10 a.m. Davidson Library
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña. We will also have songs, rhymes, and movement activities featuring love in all its different forms. Learn more

Community Read Community Helper Storytime: Love
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. at Independence Library
Bring the family and join us as we read Love by Matt de la Peña and other stories with your favorite community helpers. Learn more

Dia duit ar maidin!  That’s “Good morning!” in Irish.  In anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day, we are sharing all things Irish from our collection! 

Library staff will march and toss out candy in the 23^rd annual Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 16, 2019.  Give us a cheer as we pass by, and then swing by Main Library or ImaginOn: the Joe and Joan Martin Center.  We're open until 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Host your own St. Patrick’s Day party or Ireland “staycation” with these resources available with your library card:

• Dance an Irish jig to traditional music from Hoopla. 
• Learn Irish phrases or choose from more than 40 languages with Mango Languages. 
• Download the latest Ireland travel guides (and save room in your suitcase if you’re planning a trip).   
• Find out if castle living is for you with Minding Our Manors.
• Visit a pub without the hangover when you watch A Proper Pint. 
• Cook recipes from The Irish Pub Cookbook or An Irish Country Cookbook.

Ireland is more than just St. Patrick’s Day. It’s also birthplace to renowned authors like James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, and Oscar Wilde.  If a good fiction book is more your style, try these other authors with Irish roots:

• Emma Donoghue’s Room was the basis for the Academy Award-winning DVD; check out her other works.
• Crime and suspense fans will enjoy Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy series, or Jo Spain’s Inspector Tom Reynolds series.
• Barry’s work includes Man Booker Prize winner Days Without End.
• American authors Anne McCaffrey and Tana French were both born in the United States but resided in Ireland. 

Young Adult and Children

• Michael Scott’s The Alchemist is a fresh take on mythology. 
• Artemis Fowl does not hit movie theaters until August. Until then, read the book and catch up on Eoin Colfer's other novels. 
• Fairies, Irish folk music, and fantasy collide in Kate Thompson’s trilogy.

You can also search for Irish authors and more using our resource NoveList Plus.

Teens will want to celebrate with the Teen Geek Club at our Mint Hill Library Monday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m.; we’ll celebrate all things Irish!

Parents and caregivers will want to bookmark this list of storytime suggestions for toddlers and preschoolers.   

And also during March, we’re reading The Hate U Give as part of the 2019 Community Read.  Take the pledge, download the book, or find an event near you today. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is thrilled to partner with Biblioboard in launching the NORTH CAROLINA AUTHOR PROJECT.  From April 1, 2019 -May 31, 2019, North Carolina authors will be able to submit their unpublished or indie-published work for review by Library Journal and state judges. 

Winners will receive:

• $500 each in Adult and Young Adult categories
• Honors at the Public Library Association Conference 2020 reception in Nashville
• Opportunities to promote your book(s) at North Carolina public libraries
• Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal

Each book that is submitted must be:

• Indie-published or unpublished
• In an Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fiction genre
• Written by a North Carolina resident
• Available in either ePUB or PDF file

Submitting Your E-Book

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers two free resources, Pressbooks and SELF-e to create and upload professional-quality e-book and print ready files in ePUB, MOBI, and PDF formats. Using these resources, you can submit your book for review! See below for more information on these resources, or attend an in-person training at a library branch.*

Pressbooks is an easy-to-use online software that allows you to create professional-quality e-book and print ready files in ePUB, MOBI, and PDF formats.

SELF-e is a self-publishing program where local indie authors can share and publish their e-book through the Library.

If you do not wish to submit via Self-E or do not have a valid library card number with us,  there will also be a separate submission page available for a direct upload. However, you can easily apply for an online library card here if you live in Mecklenburg County.

Questions?

If you have questions, you can call your local library branch, or email [email protected].

*In person trainings on Self-E & Pressbooks are open for registration. Click here to register.

As seen online online at Charlotte Parent - click here.

For many families, spring break is the quintessential time to travel, meet with family members, explore and sight-see. If costs associated with vacationing is placing a damper on your family’s fun meter, why not try new resources that won’t exhaust the budget?

If you’re not sure what to do with your family this spring break, look no further than the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library resource page. There you’ll find access to an abundance of electronic resources sure to peak your family’s interest no matter the destination.

To make your job a little easier, we’ve selected a few resources sure to be a hit with the family this spring break. Try checking out our rentable Wi-Fi Hotspots. Just remember to place your hold early because these convenient devices are in high demand.

Resources

Instantly borrow e-books, comics, audiobooks, music, movies and television — with no holds, and no waiting via hoopla. There's no need to worry about late fees because hoopla features an automated service that returns an item when it's due. Content can be streamed to computers, tablets or smartphones, and can be downloaded to mobile devices to allow for offline viewing any time. You can check out up to six items from hoopla each month.

Only interested in seeing content for kids and families? Toggle through the account page and put hoopla into kids mode on your computer or in settings on the hoopla app. Kids mode replicates the experience children might have in the children's section of the library. Need help deciding or navigating hoopla? Use this tutorial to learn more.

Mango is a language-learning software with over 70 world language courses and over 17 English as a second language courses that features an engaging user interface, voice comparison, fresh design, foreign-language films and cultural anecdotes.

NC Kids Digital Library offers e-books, audiobooks, streaming videos and Read-Alongs.  This collection specifically was designed for youth ages pre-K through fourth grade and includes picture books, youth fiction and youth nonfiction. Browsing can be done by subject, format or genre, and the advanced search feature allows filtering by availability, language and date added. Titles are accessed via OverDrive. OverDrive titles can be accessed from your desktop using OverDrive Read or Listen.  Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

To check out items from the NC Kids Digital Library, click sign in on the upper right side of the page. Select Charlotte Mecklenburg Library from the list of libraries and enter your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number (a number all Charlotte-Mecklenburg School students have). Cardholders can check out up to five items at a time. No holds are allowed on NC Digital Kids Library items.

OverDrive is a collection of e-books and digital audiobooks offered by the library. E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, (including Kindle) or mobile device. OverDrive e-book titles can be read online using OverDrive Read and audiobooks can be listened to online using OverDrive Listen. Streaming video is also available.  Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. Check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period. Place holds on items that are checked out. Return items when you are finished, or they automatically are returned when they are due, so you never accumulate late fees. Need help with OverDrive? Try out this tutorial to familiarize yourself.

OverDrive eReading Room: Kids Collection offers e-books, digital audiobooks and streaming videos. The Kids Collection includes picture books, youth fiction and youth nonfiction. Kids can browse, sample, place holds and borrow titles appropriate for their age range and reading level. No adult content appears in search results.

OverDrive titles can be accessed from a desktop using OverDrive Read or Listen. Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android. All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. You can check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period.

The OverDrive eReading Room: Teen Collection site filters the library's OverDrive collection to show only teen content, which gets teens to the titles they want faster. Browse by subject, format or genre, and the advanced search feature allows filtering by availability, language and date added.

Click on the Main Collection icon to return to the full OverDrive collection of digital materials. OverDrive titles can be accessed from a desktop computer using OverDrive Read or Listen. Mobile and tablet customers download the Libby app for iOS and Android.

All you need to get started is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card number or ONE Access account number. You can check out up to 10 items with a maximum 21-day loan period.

"101 Family Vacation Games Have Fun While Traveling, Camping or Celebrating at Home" by Shando Varda includes new and old games from all around the world for parents to explore with their families and engage their children in a positive and fun-filled way. For families with children ages 4 and older.

Be sure to join Community Read 2019. Read books, join discussions and help make Mecklenburg County a stronger community.

Dana Eure, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's branch channel leader, made a guest appearance on WCNC's "Charlotte Today" on March 14, 2019, and shared A Trip to Ireland with five books. 

Adult fiction

The Green Road by Anne Enright

Spanning thirty years, [this book] tells the story of Rosaleen, matriarch of the Madigans, a family on the cusp of either coming together or falling irreparably apart. As they grow up, Rosaleen's four children leave the west of Ireland for lives they could have never imagined in Dublin, New York, and Mali, West Africa. In her early old age, their difficult, wonderful mother announces that she's decided to sell the house and divide the proceeds. Her adult children come back for a last Christmas, with the feeling that their childhoods are being erased, their personal history bought and sold.

Adult nonfiction

Maeve’s Times: In Her Own Words by Maeve Binchy

Collects the best of the author's essays from five decades of the "Irish Times" to reflect a changing culture as well as her observations on such topics as the royal wedding, waitressing, and boring airline companions.

Picture book

S is for Shamrock: An Ireland Alphabet by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Matt Faulkner. From A to Z, Ireland is presented in poetry, prose, and illustrations. Topics include Blarney Stone, Finn McCool, fairy rings, and shamrocks.

Youth fiction

Boxcar Children: Legend of the Irish created by Gertrude Chandler Warner, illustrated by Anthony VanArsdale. The Aldens travel to Ireland to explore castles. While visiting Duncarraig Castle the children discover a cloaked figure roaming around.

Teen fiction

Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch.  Addie hopes that the road trip of a lifetime through the rolling hills of Ireland will not only bring the romance and adventure she so desperately seeks but also help fix the shattered relationship she has with her brother Ian after secrets come to the surface. When she discovers the guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, will it heal her broken heart... and her relationship with her brother?